Tuesday, May 29, 2018

There
are many reasons to have a family vacation – to bring your family together, for
adventure or for the opportunity to get away from it all and relax. Yet more
and more people are eschewing these in favor of another purpose for their
holidays – education.

It
makes sense. Why not combine a great trip away as a family with the opportunity
to educate your children and maybe even yourself? Whether it be a trip to
Washington DC to help them better understand the history and governance of the
United States or a visit to Alabama to learn about the universe at the U.S.
Space and Rocket Centre, there are plenty of vacation destinations across the world
that can teach us stuff while we are away.

Here
are four educational family vacation ideas.

Washington, D.C.

A
trip to any capital city will teach you plenty about that country, but
Washington D.C. is especially brilliant at helping kids learn about the United
States. The National Archives and Records Administration is fantastic for the
history of America, being the home of the original Declaration of Independence,
Constitution and Bill of Rights. The White House and Congress teach us about
how the country is governed, the Supreme Court about how laws are applied and
the Smithsonian Museums cover so many different topics that there is guaranteed
to be something for everyone.

Huntsville, Alabama

If
your kids have a keen interest in space and science, then Huntsville, Alabama
is one place you should definitely look at holidaying. It is home to the U.S.
Space and Rocket Centre, a museum filled with exhibits about NASA’s
achievements in space. There are dozens of interactive exhibits such as the
Mission to Mars Simulator, the Spacedome IMAX Theatre and the Space Shot and G
Force Accelator which gives visitors and idea of the physical impact astronauts experience when inspace.

With Astronaut Mr. Ron Garan - 2014

Dominican Republic

The DominicanRepublic was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, one of the first landing
points of the great explorer in the Caribbean. As such, it has a rich
educational history to go with its beautiful beaches and stunning greenery.
There are a flurry of historical colonial cities on the island which can teach
plenty about how the Americas came to be colonized and it can also educate on
the beauty of nature with its vast rain forests and pristine waterfalls. For
more information on holidaying in the Caribbean, check out Caribbeansbest.Org

London

There
probably isn’t a more educational city in the world than London. It’s home to
two of the greatest museums in the Science Museum and the Natural History
Museum – both of which are free to enter. They cover science and nature and the
Imperial War Museum looks at some of the worst conflicts that have been fought
in recent times by humans. You have the worlds first parliament at Westminster,
the home of the royal family at Buckingham Palace and lovers of the English
language can visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and see some of the inspirational
sites behind the Harry Potter books.

Friday, May 25, 2018

As your child moves into
their teenage years, the relationship you share is sure to change. Instead of
telling your little one what to do, you will need to work alongside your young
adult as they try to achieve their goals. You will also need to offer up unwavering
support, as they find their feet and learn from their mistakes. One of the most
important areas to focus on is your teen’s education. If they are going to
enjoy a bright future, it is essential that they put the work in and access
their full potential. In order to make sure this happens, you will need to work
your way through the following four steps. They will help you to support your
teen with their studies.

Buy them the right digital
devices

First things first, you
should buy your teen the right digital devices. In this modern age, it is
likely that their teachers will expect them to have easy access to a laptop
computer. It is also possible that some of your teen’s assignments will require
them to take pictures and to put together dynamic presentations. If this is the case, you should seriously consider
buying your teen their very own laptop. You
could even go all out and treat them to a tablet and a smartphone.
Whatever you decide, just remember to protect these devices at all costs. If
your teen is relying heavily on technology, you can’t run the risk of them
losing their precious data. Luckily, you can play it safe by placing your trust
in companies such as Secure Data Recovery.

Set a good example

The next step is to set a
good example for your young adult. If you have study
space in your home, why not join your teen whenever they settle down for work?
You could use this time to power through your own tasks. Of course, you should
stop if your presence becomes a distraction, but it is possible that your teen
will be inspired by your willingness to match their efforts. Getting on with
your own work will also make it easier for you to encourage your teen, without
appearing hypocritical.

Don’t forget to support
their mental health

Another vital step is to support your youngster’s mental health. Although it is important to promote hard work and
dedication, this should never be at the expense of your teen’s personal well-being. If they are struggling to cope
under pressure, you need to reassure your loved one that you will be proud of
them no matter what. You could even put them in touch with a counselor, as a
trained professional will help your teen with reducing their stress levels and
putting their problems into perspective.

Reward them for all of
their hard work

Finally, you should be
rewarding your teen for all of their hard work. This could involve anything
from planning a fun-filled vacation to buying your loved one their first car. Whilst it is important that your teen recognizes
the intrinsic benefits of focusing on their education, there is no shame in
providing them with a source of motivation. You might be surprised by just how
effective this method can be.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

How many times have you been on your feet
all day whether for work or just because you’ve been busy, only to find
yourself in pain by the end of the day? Tired and swollen feet aren’t always
localized either. They can also lead to back and knee pain and just leave you
feeling miserable in general. So, rather than hobble to the couch and lie down
in agony, there are things you can do to help relieve that pain and discomfort
that you are feeling. Let’s take a closer look.

Pick Up an At-Home Foot Massager

If tired and swollen feet are a regular
occurrence for you, it may be worth your money to invest in an at-home foot
massager. There are all kinds of models available from high-tech massagers with
pre-set functions and settings, to basic roller massagers. Each style has its
own pros and cons and they all vary
greatly in price.

For all things foot massager related, be
sure to check out Foottherapy.Net, as it
features a number of in-depth reviews.

Investigate Various Essential Oils and How They Can Help

If you're looking for a natural approach to
relieving tired and swollen feet, then you may want to do some research on
essential oils. There are a number of
oils that are known to help, with
peppermint, eucalyptus, and clove oil being the most popular. You can use a
couple of drops of each in a basin of hot water and then soak
your feet for 10-15 minutes. This can be done a few times a week as a way
to relieve pain and help to bring down inflammation.

Try Some Foot Exercises

Just like how stretching can help tired and
tight muscles, feet exercises can also help to relieve some of your pain. There
are a number of exercises you can try such as sitting on a chair, extending
one foot at a time, and then slowly rotating the ankle. Another stretch that
can be done in a seated position is to extend your foot, stretch it, and try to
create a straight line with your foot and leg.

Elevate Your Feet

If you are experiencing a lot of swelling,
there's a good chance it's causing the majority of your pain. Elevating your
feet while you are sitting can do wonders for inflammation. The key is to raise
your feet at least to the level of your heart. This promotes circulation so
that blood won't be pooling in your feet. When doing this, make sure you don't
cross your legs or feet.

Start Wearing Supportive Shoes in the House

Rather than kick your running shoes off at
the door, it can be wise to invest in a pair of good quality supportive
athletic shoes that you can wear indoors. This will ensure that your feet are cared for, both inside and outside.

Tired and swollen feet can be more than an
inconvenience - it can put a wet blanket on your plans and just leave you
feeling miserable. These tips are sure to help relieve some of that pain and
swelling that you are dealing with.

Sunday, May 20, 2018

This month is not as active as April when it comes to my fitness routine. I slowed down from running and using the Bowflex Max Trainer 2 because my left lower leg was so painful. I am not sure what hurt it, its either my 2 10ks that I did or the constant use of the MT2 programs. I am just slowly getting back to it now because I don't want to have a painful leg or knee again.

Anyway, I got this stainless steel 5 hook rack from Cavetools. I was gonna use it for my husband;'s tool in the garage but decided to use it in our gym to hang our jump ropes. This rack is multipurpose, you can use it in the kitchen for your kitchen wares and other BBQ tools, for your bathroom, or anywhere that you need a sturdy rack for stuff.

I love that it comes with all the hardware that it needs to install it. Installation is not hard, I did it myself, which I always ask my husband to do it when it involves some drilling and stuff like that. This one, I didn't need his help, I was proud to do it myself lol.

I love the screwdriver that comes with it because you can either use it as a flat tip or slot head and philips head. All you need to do is insert it in the handle and voila, you have a heavy duty screwdriver.

You can buy this multi purpose hook rack via amazon or the link I provided above. You can use this coupon code HOOKRACK15 for 15% off upon check out.

As I have mentioned above, April was my super active month. I did my first 10k Run on the treadmill (I haven't tried joining any race). This way, I am only racing with myself so I can stop anytime or speed up, it is up to my brain what it tells me lol.

I was trying to change up my routine a little bit so I stop running and tried to use the Max Trainer. I think I used it three days in a row, which was a big mistake because after that, my leg was hurting so bad.

I was happy with the result of my workouts though. I can actually fit into the dress that I tucked away a couple of years ago because my tummy was bulging everytime I wear it. Now I can confidently wear it without sucking in my stomach ha ha ha.

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on May 13, 2018 at 5:53pm PDT

I am slowly testing my leg now and it still hurts a little bit but not as much. I am taking it slow and light this time, no more pushing too hard. I gotta say though, it's awesome to push yourself, you get to learn that you can do better than what you think. You also learn your limits. No matter what, just keep moving, do not give up. Below is a video of my favorite jump rope exercise.Disclosure:The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review. I was provided with the complimentary product/s mentioned for testing purposes and to help me facilitate this review but opinions are my own.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

My husband does not like to take pictures especially when there's a big event he has to attend to but he did not have a choice lol. I told him that this is a special occasion and capturing it is important that way we will have something to look back to someday.

We got ready few hours early so we could drive to Duquesne University before the heavy traffic pour in. Friday is when the traffic is so bad in going to Pittsburgh. So we want to get there before all the workers get out and head home. We even got the kids 2-hour early from their school so we could all get ready.

My husband was kind of regretting attending the graduation because the kids had a dance that night but I told the kids that they will have another dance next year but their Dad will only graduate once. I mean, we did not attend his college graduation even though I encouraged him then as he graduated Magna Cum Laude but he said that it's not really important. To me it is.

I mean not a lot of people goes to graduate school when they already retired from the service or already have a job but it is something that he wanted to do. He never got the chance to do it when he was younger so it's quite an accomplishment especially that he achieved it while working so I am beyond proud.

He missed out on a lot of stuff when he was younger serving the country so I told him that it is not too late to do it now that he has retired and working a civilian job. I think it is a good example to the children as well, that you can pursue your education no matter how old you are. It is just a matter of your own will.

He did not attend the Kick Off to graduation so no professional photos for him. I said we can just do it at home with us in it lol.

For some reason, our daughter was having an attitude that day so I had a one on one talk with her. Glad she came around and joined us.

I think the photos turned out okay, it's not professionally done but why pay big bucks if you can do it yourself for less.

I told my husband that he should get used to having pictures taken every time because he is married to an Asian woman. In Asia, taking pictures is very common, we do it all the time. I was kind of shocked when I first came here because there are people who doesn't like their picture taken. Over there where I grew up, nobody says no to pictures ha ha. Anyway, we had fun attending the diploma ceremony. I'll post about it next time.

The great outdoorsare a fantastic place to be. Research has shown
that spending time outside every couple of days can help calm the nerves
because of the ambiance associated with
Mother Nature’s artful work.

While the environment is usually
pleasing, there are times when one can stumble upon hindrances during treks and
hikes from one place to the next. Thus, it’s always handy to have some info on
what to do when that happens.

Our focus today will be on weeds.
Essentially, weeds are plants that grow in unwanted locations. While their
growth causes a hindrance, it is important to note that their growth occurs
naturally without any human intervention. Amazingly, plants that are considered
weeds in one environment may have some aesthetic value elsewhere. Thus, it’s
always down to what one is looking for.

Typically, weeds grow rapidly and
reproduce in no time. Weeds can be found in almost all spheres of human life,
in walk paths, patios, gardens and lawns.
Given the fact that weeds reproduce en masse, it is important to have
mitigation strategies at the ready in order to cull their influence and prevent
them from taking over other vegetative forms.

Weed Killers

Garden maintenance can be an
arduous task especially if there are weeds running rampant. Such growths can
wreak havoc on the flora and fauna and
diminish the quality of soil if left unchecked.

Hence, the emergence of weed
killers in the market. Weed killers are also known as weedicides or herbicides.
They have chemicals that kill off unwanted plants and stop their growth. Given
the wide array of weed types, weed killers are specialized to deal with killing
particular kinds of weeds.

The variations depend on what one
is really looking for in a weed killer. Some of them are pet friendly; some are industrial, commercial,
professional, systemic or residual. We look into a couple of things that need
to be taken into account when choosing the Best Weed Killer.

Pointers

Selectivity is an essential part of
the process. Selective weed killers objectively target specific types of weeds
like dandelions or blackberries.
Most people prefer selective weed killers since they pose no harm to the grass.

On the other hand, non-selective
weed killers immediately destroy any vegetation they lay their hands on, be it
trees, grass or weeds. Typically, non-selective weed killers are used in areas
like driveways, paving stones and concrete cracks.

Another brand of weed killers takes
into consideration the emergence rate of weeds. Thus, they are best applied
right before the weeds germinate. Systemic weed killers tend to get
absorbed into plants at later stages and attack the leaves, roots and stems and their effectiveness occurs after
some time, ranging from a couple of days to weeks. For a quick turnaround time,
one needs to use contact weed killers that essentially start working within a
couple of hours.

Persistence is another grouping
factor when it comes to choosing weed killers. For effectiveness, weed killers
need to be persistent in order to stop future regrowth. Non-persistent weed
killers need to be sprayed after every couple of weeks or months in order to
realize best results.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Amidst school work for the kids and work commitments, making a common schedule to spend some quality time together as a family can be tricky. This becomes particularly difficult when at the end of the week everyone is worn out and all they want is to stay indoors and watch some TV or spend time on their phone.

It is then becomes more important to deliberately go out of your way to find ways to spendtime together as a family. That’s how you strengthen your family bonds and grow closer. The best way is to go outside and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air together as a family. Everyone will be grateful at the end of the day.

A family road trip is the best way to get outdoors as a family and do exciting things together. Plan a short road trip so that the kids don’t get too tired and burned out midway which will put a damper on the whole trip.

Have everyone suggest destinations they would like to visit and settle on one or two that works within your schedule and plans and drive there.

That shouldn’t limit you though. You can still spruce up the family RV using tips from Black Smoke Media News and take the trip of a lifetime especially during the long vacations.

Traveling is a great way to expose your kids to beautiful sceneries and nature and inculcate in them the love of traveling.

A family that stays together exercises together. Hiking is a fantastic activity for getting fit together as a family and also breathing some much needed fresh air. Find some comfortable clothing and shoes with good grips to avoid slips and falls which could cause nasty injuries and you are good to go hiking as a family.

You can spice things up by having family picnic at the end of it all sitting on green grass with birds chirping all around you. You can go hiking at locations that have interesting natural attractions to further make the experience more memorable.

The terrain and steepness should however not be too harsh as to be unfriendly to kids.

Fishing

Fishing is a classic family outdoor activity. You will to invest in some quality gear and drive up to the nearest pond, river or lake.

Since some rivers and lakes are prone to freezing during the cold winter months, you should find out if fishing is still possible beforehand so you don’t get disappointed when you get there. Otherwise you can restrict to the warm summer months.

Take safety cautions when you go fishing with the kids to avoid accidental drowning.

What better way to teach your kids the importance of giving without expecting anything back than volunteering for charity. The charity activity you choose to involve the whole family in should be age-appropriate for the young ones.

You can volunteer to clean up your streets or visit an orphanage or any other charity of your choice.